Patricia vs Samantha
Patricia and Samanthacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Patricia was ranked #98 and Samantha #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1978, Patricia was ranked #85 and Samantha #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Patricia was ranked #434 and Samantha #313 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Patricia was ranked #544 and Samantha #455 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Patricia was ranked #608 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Patricia was ranked #1407 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Patricia and Samantha over time
Patricia and Samantha appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Samantha held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Patricia in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Patricia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Samantha in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Samantha moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1969 as Patricia fell out of it to #52, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Samantha moved ahead of Patricia in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #38 and #49 the year before became #52 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Patricia and Samantha changed places 11 times in Norway · Girls between 1969 and 2017, ending at #544 and #455.
- Longest-running competitions
Patricia and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1407 and #778.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Patricia #443 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Patricia held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Samantha in 30.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #8 in 1967, Samantha #33 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patricia #608, Samantha #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Patricia held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Samantha in 29.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #443 in 1996, Samantha #32 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patricia #1407, Samantha #778.
Norway · Girls29 shared years, 1969–2017
Patricia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Samantha in 10.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #307 in 1984, Samantha #298 in 2015.
The order changed in 2015: Samantha moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #550 and #551; by 2015 that had become #535 and #298.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Patricia #544, Samantha #455.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1966–1984
Patricia held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Samantha in 12.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #33 in 1966, Samantha #15 in 1975.
The order changed in 1969: Samantha moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #38 and #49; by 1969 that had become #52 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Patricia #98, Samantha #20.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2018
Patricia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Samantha in 12.
Highest recorded here: Patricia #139 in 1997, Samantha #57 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Patricia #434, Samantha #313.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Patricia | Samantha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Likely a feminine adaptation of Samuel, incorporating a suffix possibly derived from Greek 'anthos' ('flower'). Emerged in 18th-century America; boosted to wide popularity by the 1964 television series Bewitched. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin) |
| Pronunciation | /sə.ˈmæn.θə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Norway · Girls #525 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Samantha has a recorded origin (Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)); Patricia does not have one recorded yet.
- Patricia and Samantha both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Samantha; Patricia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Patricia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1978
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1978).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Samantha
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2013
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1966–2013).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls